Photographing the Moon

[Don Hoey]

Tonights experiment to compare an image through a scope and an old 300mm f4.5 AIS lens.

This lens long discontinued, was never the sharpest pencil in Nikons box. In fact on a D2X sensor it is best described as soft. So I thought it would make a suitable candidate to try. Also it is the longest lens I have. I dont have a TC to put on the 80-200 or that would be a different story.

Compared to using the scope it was a delight to focus. The posted image is a full frame crop so not a huge magnification. Curves and conversion to B&W were used along with a fair amount of usm.

ISO200, 1/160sec @ f8.

Don

[NickR]

Hi Don, I see what you mean about the moon phase, the shadows are now appearing. This is my latest effort.
1/320, f/6.3, ISO100, curves and B&W little sharpening.

[Andy]

We're all at it tonight... tragic isn't it?
I put the the 1.7x teleconverter on the 300mm tonight. And for anyone who is interested by the magnification difference a 1.7x is over a 1.4x on a 300mm lens... it's your lucky night

[Andy]

May as well do it properly, with the bare 300mm as well. This is how large they are in the frame. And no, I won't be getting the 600 out tonight

EDIT... found a 600+1.4x shot for comparison, so now added to the scale line-up. In the past, when-ever I've been upgrading focal length on lenses, I was always keen to see direct comparison to see how much difference it makes, so maybe this will help others decide the worth of more focal length.

[Don Hoey]

I can't compete with that Andy. Superb job. Yours are a challenge for Foxy Bob.

After my earlier meagre offering I have had a rummage in the loft ( nothing better to do ) and found what I thought I had. An 1980's Teleplus 2X converter. Stuck this on the 300 and here is the result.

Don

[Don Hoey]

Originally Posted by NickR

Hi Don, I see what you mean about the moon phase, the shadows are now appearing. This is my latest effort.
1/320, f/6.3, ISO100, curves and B&W little sharpening.

Nick,

Good effort. My 2 from tonight were f8 and I reckon you could safely reduce shutter speed to get there.

I would suggest a slightly lighter touch on curves ( but that's personal ) and trust me you can add lots of usm. I used a radius of 0.4 and gave it loads. Then if you resize try a radius of 1.0 and give it a touch. ( This is bound to be contraversial among the no sharpness guys ) Keeping the ISO down as much as possible is a good plot and you bettered me there. Mine were ISO200 at 1/160 sec f8.


Don

[robski]

So have I got to trade in my x1.4 for a x2 tomorrow ?

[Don Hoey]

Originally Posted by robski

So have I got to trade in my x1.4 for a x2 tomorrow ?

Rob,

It was your gallery pic that made me do my trial tonight. I noticed the focal length.

I don't think we can compete with Andy and Foxy on the glass front.
You keep your 1.4 and I won't bin the teleplus.

I see you have well and truely joined us crazies here, 2 moon pics !!

Don

[NickR]

Originally Posted by Andy

May as well do it properly, with the bare 300mm as well. This is how large they are in the frame. And no, I won't be getting the 600 out tonight

EDIT... found a 600+1.4x shot for comparison, so now added to the scale line-up. In the past, when-ever I've been upgrading focal length on lenses, I was always keen to see direct comparison to see how much difference it makes, so maybe this will help others decide the worth of more focal length.

Hi Andy, It would be good to see all images the same size (cropped) to see how the TC effect the image quality, I guess it could be possible to get a better shot the same size without a TC? Or is magnification everything shooting moon shots?

Cheers

[Saphire]

Nice set of examples Andy. Size really does make a difference.